Analysis

The Impacts of Religion on LGBT in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, religious freedom is a fundamental right that Hong Kong people enjoy. As shown by 2010 yearbook-religion, there are one million Taoist followers and more than one million Buddhists, approximately 833 000 Christians and 220 000 Muslims, etc.
(Source: pwen28 n.d., CartoonStock.com)

Though the two dominant religious group, Taoist and Buddhism, don’t have opinions in issue of homosexuality, the western orientated religion, Christianity or Catholic that are also very prevalence, oppose to homosexuality. Homosexuality is immoral in their value judgment. Furthermore, with accord to ‘ The lack of sexual orientationantidiscriminationlegislation in Hong Kong:breach of international and domesticlegalobligations’(2012), antigay activists argue that ‘What is new about the antigay crusaders we face now isthat they seek to collapse the relatively fragile boundary between church and state. Theyuse the transformative [culture] of homosexuality . . . to argue for a fusion of the religiousand the secular in order to preserve the status quo. Such a fusion is dangerous to the idea ofcivil society’ They relate the issue of homosexuality with the wellbeing of the society. Currently, there are some organizations, for instance, The society for Truth and Light that in Christianity background, openly criticize homosexuality and encourage only same sex marriage.

This is giving some pressure on those gay or lesbian. Indeed, Hong Kong is regarded as opened to culture in different diversity. On the other hand, these religious groups have great influence in society by engaging in public service, for example, they have established schools, hospital or social welfare facilities. Challenged by religious group’s determined attitudes towards sexuality issue, government do not legalize same sex marriage, which sometimes stirs up controversies among public.